Add charm to your outdoor space with this gorgeous succulent hanging that's shaped in a heart. Prep succulents a day before you start this project—the succulent cuttings need to develop scabs where the stem is cut. To prepare, simply remove succulent plants from their pots and wipe away any excess dirt. Clip succulents, leaving a stem to insert into the form.
What You Need
- Poster board
- Marker or pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Foam core sheet
- Cutting mat
- Crafts knife
- Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
- Cardboard
- Cooking spray
- Screwdriver
- Craft chicken wire
- Floral wire
- Tub
- Dust mask, gloves, goggles
- Measuring cups
- Fast-drying concrete
- Plastic anchors
- Rubber mallet
- Wet floral foam
- Sphagnum moss
- Succulents
- Floral pins
Step 1: Trace Hearts
To make heart form, fold poster board in half and draw half a heart on the seam. Cut once you're happy with size and shape, measure 1 1/2 inches the outside of that heart and draw a second one. Cut out.
Trace both heart patterns onto foam core and cut with knife. Glue hearts together.
Step 2: Add Cardboard
Cut cardboard strip long enough to wrap around the outside of your foam heart. Cut a second piece to wrap around the inner heart. Secure both to outsides of heart edges with low-temp hot glue. Prime cardboard form with oil.
Step 3: Secure Chicken Wire
Poke holes through inner heart foam board. Cut a piece of chicken wire to lay on top of the heart and run floral wire through the back and up through holes to keep chicken wire in place. Trim wire around the inner heart shape, but leave enough to tuck into the form.
Step 4: Make Concrete
Prepare a surface for mixing concrete. Put on a dusk mask, gloves, and goggles if outside or in a windy setting. Slowly add water to six cups of fast-drying concrete, mixing with your hands until a cottage cheese consistency has formed.
Fill outer heart shape with concrete. Fill to the top of the form and be sure to completely cover the chicken wire. Insert plastic anchors on opposite sides of the heart. Let dry 24 hours.
Step 5: Add Plants
After concrete is completely dry, tap the form genty with a rubber mallet and peel away cardboard. Fill inner heart with dampened floral foam and cover with damp sphagnum moss. Secure with floral pins. Use a screwdriver to make holes; add succulents to your heart. Be sure to leave room for plant growth.